Gloc-9: Who, me? Icon?
While artists crave attention, acceptance and respect, some of them still balk when given a title they feel is too grand for their station.
Such is the word “icon.”
Though that’s the title of the Nov. 21 concert of Gloc-9, Rico Blanco and Yeng Constantino—formidable talents in their own right—none of them seem willing to see themselves as such.
Heir to the throne
"Hindi po namin pinagdidikdikan na icons kami. Hindi po ako kumportable dyan sa icon tag," said the famed rapper in a press conference at Plaza Ibarra in Quezon City.
Certainly, Gloc-9 is acknowledged as heir to the throne left vacant by the passing of master rapper Francis Magalona five years ago.
And though his body of work thus far shows him going the way of idol FrancisM, Gloc-9 would rather think of the term a little differently.
Beauty pageant answer
"Para sa akin ang meaning ng ‘icon’ sa title ng concert, fans of music kami," he said, opting for a beauty pageant answer.
The poet-songwriter behind the hits "Sirena" and "Upuan" is part of the latest Cornerstone Concerts project scheduled on November 21, Friday, 8 pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While he himself has his share of radio hits, Gloc-9 would rather focus on extending kind words to the two other artists he’s sharing the stage with.
Kind words
"Napakatapang na artist ni Rico at matagal na panahon na ang ginugol niya sa industriya," the rapper said of the former Rivermaya frontman, who was featured in Gloc-9’s “Magda” and appears in the forthcoming DVD documentary “Biyahe ng Pangarap.”
As for Yeng, Gloc-9 called her part of "the new breed" of artists. "Pag magkasama kami ni Yeng, pansin ko na kaya niyang makiharap sa pinakasosyal na crowd at makihalubilo sa pinakasadsad sa mga masa," he elaborated.
The three of them showed a sample of what fans may expect in the concert, performing a mashup of the Blanco-penned Rivermaya track "Panahon na Naman" and Yeng's signature hit "Hawak Kamay", with rap add-ons from Gloc 9.
ICON: The Concert, directed by Paul Basinilio, features the dance group G-Force. Tickets at P424, 742, 1060, 2120, 3180, 3710 and 4770 are available at Ticketnet.
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